In 1949, the Sanborn Map Company updated its detailed survey of Opelika, Alabama. This map contains a wealth of detail, including all major and minor structures within the city limits, and detailed information about their function. Sanborn published this map (and others like it) for the benefit of insurance companies, who used them to estimate the fire risk for different structures in the town. For...

The United States’ industrial strength was crucial to Allied victory in World War II. Throughout the 1930s, American industry had languished during the Great Depression. However, the American economy quickly rebounded as demand for war materials spiked. Textiles were amongst the most important goods produced during the war. Mills across the country ran night and day to churn out a variety of fabrics...